The read-write web is an opportunity for you to provide additional ideas to the discussion items from the April 11, Orange County Middle Grades Network, leadership team meeting. In order to “write” on the web page, simply click “Edit This Page” and make your changes. Once the page has your additional text, click on “Save”. Feel free to "write" within the body of text or use the sections below.
Needs: The group discussed some of the needs that may be addressed through this network:
Middle schools need opportunities to see what other people are doing in the county.
There is a need for access to or knowledge about practices, programs, interventions, and professional development that are available to schools in our county.
Need to know what is happening in the field of middle school education.
Need to have a resource that brings people together for informational purposes and/or a clearinghouse of best practices.
There is a need for answers, solutions, and opportunities to be communicated to those in leadership and to teachers.
There is a need to showcase the application of these practices in this area.
In the future there will be a need to build on what the network/community identifies as best practices, and to share knowledge.
CF I see that one of the most critical needs that we could address through this network would be to provide opportunities for middle school staffs to visit and connect with local programs that are exemplary best practices. Although there are other groups like CLMS who offer annual conferences this network would provide low cost or no cost opportunities for middle school educators a chance to meet to discuss common concerns and to connect in between conferences. It might also be an effective way to impact legislation.
Darlene Messinger: Sorry, I haven't been part of the planning and discussion, put wanted to comment on the suggestion to visit and observe exemplary MS programs. Part of the DIstinguished School requirement was for each nominated secondary school to create a Visitors' Guide to Best Practice. Schools were to select their top 3 exemplary programs, including PLCs initiatives, Positive Behavior Programs, etc., and send it to the CDE. That list is now available on the CDE website under Distinguished Schools. Those of us who participated in site visits saw many excellent programs and practices in place, and most, if not all, of these schools are willing to showcase and share their ideas. Just a thought to consider as you think about or plan for school visits.
The group discussed some of the possible solutions that may be addressed through this network:
Look for middle school practices, interventions, staff development programs and share the knowledge.
Serve as a clearing house of ideas, practices, visitations etc.
Select one focus area of need for the year, for example RTI. Find out who is doing work that could be showcased. Who is doing PLCs?
This team might serve as a form of quality control. This oversight could add to our credibility to ensure that strong/correct information and/or programs are being showcased. This may be considered a quality control before a program is included in the resource listing.
Coordinate the different efforts of the other middle school groups/organizations that may be doing some of this work already; for example, offering to assist the CDE in rolling out Taking Center Stage II.
Arrange visitations (half-day) where a program is highlighted and information is provided to teachers/principals.
The group discussed possible next steps that may be addressed through this network:
Find out what techniques and/or strategies schools and districts need.
Use a survey tool to surface the needs of Orange County’s districts and schools. Create a simple questionnaire that addresses the areas of need. Provide some optional responses: for example, RTI, Professional Learning Communities, intervention programs. What are your district/school’s best practices? What are the priority areas?
Duane should attend a C and I/assistant superintendents’ meeting, and Marc will address the superintendents. At the superintendents’ meeting, state our purpose of this new network, what’s in it for them, and what we want from them. We will want them to communicate with their principals about the network and purpose, and ask them to support the completion of the survey.
Continue to discuss how we would establish quality control.
Showcase this network.
Offer CDE help in rolling out Taking Center Stage II. Help facilitate – assist the state.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your comments, input, ideas, and concerns are welcomed here:
D.C.: I will create a draft survey, through the use of Survey Monkey and get this out to the team. If you suggest a different survey tool, let me know. The assistant superintendents will meet in late May. We should be organized with the items suggested above before that meeting.
Needs:
The group discussed some of the needs that may be addressed through this network:
Middle schools need opportunities to see what other people are doing in the county.
There is a need for access to or knowledge about practices, programs, interventions, and professional development that are available to schools in our county.
Need to know what is happening in the field of middle school education.
Need to have a resource that brings people together for informational purposes and/or a clearinghouse of best practices.
There is a need for answers, solutions, and opportunities to be communicated to those in leadership and to teachers.
There is a need to showcase the application of these practices in this area.
In the future there will be a need to build on what the network/community identifies as best practices, and to share knowledge.
Principals, superintendents, assistant superintendents of curriculum and instruction, and teaching staff need this information/service.
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Your comments, input, ideas, and concerns are welcomed here:
CF I see that one of the most critical needs that we could address through this network would be to provide opportunities for middle school staffs to visit and connect with local programs that are exemplary best practices. Although there are other groups like CLMS who offer annual conferences this network would provide low cost or no cost opportunities for middle school educators a chance to meet to discuss common concerns and to connect in between conferences. It might also be an effective way to impact legislation.
Darlene Messinger: Sorry, I haven't been part of the planning and discussion, put wanted to comment on the suggestion to visit and observe exemplary MS programs. Part of the DIstinguished School requirement was for each nominated secondary school to create a Visitors' Guide to Best Practice. Schools were to select their top 3 exemplary programs, including PLCs initiatives, Positive Behavior Programs, etc., and send it to the CDE. That list is now available on the CDE website under Distinguished Schools. Those of us who participated in site visits saw many excellent programs and practices in place, and most, if not all, of these schools are willing to showcase and share their ideas. Just a thought to consider as you think about or plan for school visits.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Possible Solutions:
The group discussed some of the possible solutions that may be addressed through this network:
Look for middle school practices, interventions, staff development programs and share the knowledge.
Serve as a clearing house of ideas, practices, visitations etc.
Select one focus area of need for the year, for example RTI. Find out who is doing work that could be showcased. Who is doing PLCs?
This team might serve as a form of quality control. This oversight could add to our credibility to ensure that strong/correct information and/or programs are being showcased. This may be considered a quality control before a program is included in the resource listing.
Coordinate the different efforts of the other middle school groups/organizations that may be doing some of this work already; for example, offering to assist the CDE in rolling out Taking Center Stage II.
Arrange visitations (half-day) where a program is highlighted and information is provided to teachers/principals.
Create a technology clearinghouse to allow collaboration between individuals.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Your comments, input, ideas, and concerns are welcomed here:
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Possible Next Steps:
The group discussed possible next steps that may be addressed through this network:
Find out what techniques and/or strategies schools and districts need.
Use a survey tool to surface the needs of Orange County’s districts and schools. Create a simple questionnaire that addresses the areas of need. Provide some optional responses: for example, RTI, Professional Learning Communities, intervention programs. What are your district/school’s best practices? What are the priority areas?
Duane should attend a C and I/assistant superintendents’ meeting, and Marc will address the superintendents. At the superintendents’ meeting, state our purpose of this new network, what’s in it for them, and what we want from them. We will want them to communicate with their principals about the network and purpose, and ask them to support the completion of the survey.
Continue to discuss how we would establish quality control.
Showcase this network.
Offer CDE help in rolling out Taking Center Stage II. Help facilitate – assist the state.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Your comments, input, ideas, and concerns are welcomed here:
D.C.: I will create a draft survey, through the use of Survey Monkey and get this out to the team. If you suggest a different survey tool, let me know. The assistant superintendents will meet in late May. We should be organized with the items suggested above before that meeting.
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